LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVX, Issue 3129, 15 May 1897, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Our Literary Supplement to-day is, perhaps, one of the best ever issued from this office, and wo have no doubt but that it will be duly appreciated by the many readers of tho New Zealand Tim cs. Tho reproduction of a crayon sketch of “ Gladstone at Work ” was attended with some difficulty, but the result has been satisfactory, lending, as it does, additional interest to the powerful letter written by Brit .in’s Grand Old Man to the Duke of Westminster. The letter is a soul-stirring history of the Eastern Question, and letter and sketch are worthy of being

treasured in every household. The other matter, embracing a capital story by Mrs Lucy Stuart, specially written for the New Zealand Times ; “ Notes of the Week,” by “Scrutator”; special notes on Sporting subjects by “ Silverspur,” will bo welcomed by a large circle of readers. We have been

jongratulated ou the effort made to supply

first-class Supplement, and readers may rest assured that the high standard will be fully maintained.

Great interest was taken last Saturday in the results of footb iU matches, and other nowri posted on the New Zealand Times boards outside the office. Permanent arrangements have now been made for lighting up these latest records by electricity, and secretaries of clubs are requested to send in returns as soon as the matches are concluded. Other results will be posted up to-night, our arrangements for recording these being complete.

On our back page to-day will be found an

interesting budget of nows Loin unc Palmerston correspondent, football news, a report of the proceedings in the Magistrate’s Court in connection with tho Courtenay plaoo robbery, several letters to the editor and some matters of interest relating to the Hawke's Elay disaster.

At tho Magistrate’s Court yesterday, a small boy named Arthur Muir and a youth named William Glover were charged with discharging firearms in the street. The younger boy was cautioned and discharged, and Glover was fined 10s, with £1 costs, or in default seven days’ imprisonment. An order was made against Joseph Ore to pay £1 every four weeks for tho support of his mother.

A deputation from the -.Carriers' Union waited on the Wharves and Accounts Committee of the Harbour Board yesterday to complain of the action of certain porters and expressmen in endeavouring, as the deputation alleged, to impose on steamer passengers. The matter was disousaed, and it was decided that the best plan would be to appoint delegates from the Harbour Board and Carriers’, Cabmen’s, and Porters’ Unions to wait upon the Giiy Council to ask them to pass a by-law which will enable the ail -hocities to deal with the offenders.

On her way down the East Coast this trip the Dingadee called at Portland Island to land four men who had been sent from Auckland to salvage the wrecked scow Pirate. Mr Matthews is superintending operations, and it is hoped that by throwing the cargo of coal overboard the stranded vessel will be success, fully refloated. MrMilooim Niccol, of Auckland, who was part owner of tLe Pirate, has, it is understood, purchased the vessel outright for £2O, and it is under his instructions that the salvage operations have been started. A good supply of stores, &0., was left behind with the men, as the work will probably take some little time.

It is reported that the partner in a Dnnolin brewery was paid £30,000 on retiring from the business.

On Thursday afternoon the Native Parliament, which has been sitting at Papawai, prorogued until September. At tho Mount Cook Police Station yesterday Mr McFarland, J.P., fined au old offender for drunkenness os, or in default 2i hours ir gaol. Constable Hattie brought down two persons named \V. Haines and John Henderson from Palmerston North night to undergo a six mouths’ sentence for theft.

A match will be played on tho Wellington Bowling Jlub’s green to-day between a team comprising players over sft 7ia aud another team of members below that hoigat. The Liedertafel held a very successful practi jo f'i'i ni rut of tue in-isio lobe sung at the “Ladies’ i\ight ” Concert to be given in Jude. Twenty new members wore elected and 15 proposed.

Mr Trogear and Mr James Gray (secretary and shorthand writer to the Private Benefit Societies Commission* vrfiiofif is to commence its sitting* at Dunedin next week) left for South last night. Mr Fisher went on by tho Penguin on Wednesday. * Mr X. M. Wilford is to apply to tho Stipendiary Magistrate to-day for tho cancellation of an order by which a man named James McLolland was committed to gaol for failing to find sureties that he would pay for his illegitimate child, as tho child has since died. There was a record attend voce at Sidey’a auction rooms yesterday when the salvage goods, ex Zuleika, were sold by auction. The mart was uncomfortably crowded with genuine buyers, and the whole of the goods wore quitted at prices quite satisfactory to the vendors.

Yesterday H*M.S. Royalist left Auckland for Fiji, bavin* been replaced on tho New Zealand station by H.AI S. Pylades. Tho latter warship is to leave Russell for Auckland on Sunday, and according to present arrangements she will remain at the northern port until Queen’s Birthday, and then leaves for Wellington via East Coast. Tho musical committee of the Caledonian Society mot last night to consider the plans for the Society’s twelfth annual concert. Tho secretary of tho Garrison Band wrote offering the services of. the band on the occasion. This kind offer was accepted. The secretary informs us that, the coming concert will be quite on novel lines.

We. are informed that- tbo difficulties be* tween tho drainage -Department and the contractors for the outfall sower have been settled. The contractors are confident of finishing the work before the end of September. They sustained heavy loss through the washing away of the coffer drain during the Easter floods, which was put down to faoili* tate the laying of the concrete sewer.

At a meeting; of the Workers 1 Union last night, Mr R. Patton presiding, it vras decided to hold a conference in the Trades Hall on Queen’s Birthday. This will be the first don* feronoe of delegates of the Union since the removal of the headquarters from Waimate to Wellington. The hoars Of meeting were fixed as follows-10.30 a;ra. till 13.30 p.m., 2 till 4.30 p.m. Sis new raanibors wore elected, arid a quantity of routine business transacted.

The usual mooting Of the Wellington Bis* trict Lodge, 1.0.G,T., took place last night, Bro. Thompson, D.O. l\, in the chair. The chief business was the consideration of a report from the superintendent of the Helping Hand Mission, stating that the Mission was in a flourishing condition, antLanuounciug that a special .effort was to be made to raU6 fulids ori its.behilf with* the object, it is understood, of purchasing the Choral Hall outright. Degrees wore conferred upon two members, and routine business transacted. The Wellington Chess Club has decided to open the season with a match married v. single, to be played in the club’s room on Friday nsxt. Play will commence at 8 p.m., and the public are heartily invited to attend. The following are the teams: —Married Messrs W. Mackay, Barraud, Still, Ryder, Brown, B. B. Allen, Esson, Tamer, S. Mackay, Drydon, Pethorick, Richardson, J. Littlejohn, Anderson, Naismitb. Single— Messrs Barnes, Mason, Tait, James, Kelling, Wright, Matthews, Janion, Hadfield, Turnbull, Whitolaw, Tone, R. Smith, W; W. Smith, Moore, Cat-man, Tbpp.

Jfc is expected that the terdpdrary railway bridge over the Rarigitikei river will bo completed about th<s 18th inat;, oif, at any rile, in time to allow the trains on the Queeri’s Birthday to pass over it. The eriginos will not be taken over the structure, but the carriages will be shunted, across. This will occasion a little delay, but ho incorivenie.uco to passengers. The resumption of traffic will be very acceptable to both the railway officials and the public, apd it will .enable. the. former, to Handle a lot-of goods, and stock which have been detained On dither aide of the river ever since the bridge broke away.

Tho incident at Kopuaranga, on the railway line from Eketahuna, on Thursday night, when a child narrowly escaped death, was startling. As the engine ran over the cattle stop, the driver noticed something near the rail, and pulled up tho train as quickly as possible, when, on going back to the spot, it was found that the child, a mito of two or throe years old, was wedged in the cattle •top, and that the train liad paSsed > bvhr, it. .The escape from death was marvellous. Had the child lifted its head it must Have boon struck by the.- cowcatcher : .-and. killed,. ,- The little one had ovidentljystrayed bn tb the lino soldo limb beferb the train arrived. - At a well-attended meet)"'* u ~ l ' > Peters wiiUUiroom - i as fc night, Mr C. H. Izard in tho chair, it was decided to form a Wellington Physical Training School and Gymnasium. The following officers were elected i—President, Mr J. 0 Martin ; viespresidents, Messrs Izard, Bethune, Ronaldson and Dr Faulko ; hon. treasurer, Mr Woods ; hon. secretary, Mr Henderson, The appointment of a committee was postponed until noit meeting. It was intimated that a plant had already been acquired, and that it was probable that arrangements would bo made with St. Peter’s vestry which would enable the gymnasium to bo opened on Tuesday next. At the Foxton CoUrfc on Thursday, before Mr Greenfield, S.M.j the hearing of an information charging Frank Thyimo with being the father of an illegitimate child j occupied froin the opening of the Odurt till 8.30 in the evening. Mr VVilford, of We lingtori, appeared for the complainant, and. Mr Morisoil, of Wellington, for tho defendant. • Mis Worship made an order againrit tho defendant id pay the coats incidental to the birth of the child and to contHbrito 10s a week till tlis

6hild attained the ago of 14 years. Great interest was taken in the case, it feeing between the families of t*rd dt the oldest residents of Fbxton. The Court was crowded during the whole time the case was being heard,• Kenny, S.M.i made a remark in Court yesterday with which all persons who have been witnesses in cases hoard at the Magutrate’s Court will cordially agree, Mr Wilford had asked that all. witnesses in d case feeing .heard eHoddd fee oirdored out of Court; when it, was requested that the female wit> nesses should be allowed to remain. Mr Wilford said it was essential that all should leave the Mr Kenny then said it was a jiity that proper accommodation for waiting witnesses was not provided. There was no room for_them to go into tlierd was any Eomfoit—a nr© for instance. ,As it was, witnesses had to wait about tlio draughty corridors. There was, of course, the bailiff’s room, biit th-,t was almost as bad as the corridors. .. At the Opera fiouso on Friday evening next, Carl Hcrti, the clever and popular entertainer, will make his reappearance for a few farewell performances prior to his immediate departure for London. Included in the fresh attractions will be the first production in Wellington of the latest illusion “Vanity Fair.” It was the presentation of this really marvellous illusion that created so much public enthusiasm in Christchurch, when the management had to submit to a prosecution for overcrowding tlm theatre. In addition the cinematograph© will introduce a complete set of new pictures, including the very latest photograph of Her Majesty the Queen. We are requested to state that daring the season the cinematographe will be operated from the rear of the stage, and will thus add to the enjoyment of the dress circle patrons, and admit of the best seats being available at the box office, which opens to day.

The lessees of the Thorndon Tennis Club’s ground in whom the ground was vested wishing to be relieved of their responsibility, a meeting of the members of the club was held last night to elect new lessees and to re-draft the rules accordingly. Eight permanent trustees were elected and four members of the club, who will bo elected annually, Mr B. N. Simpson, president of the old club, was elected to the chair The following gentlemen were elected a permanent committeeMessrs Simpson, Fulton, Young, Gore, Goring, Wilson, Kennedy and Pollen, while Mrs Fulton, Miss Kennedy and Messrs Hartman and Mackay were elected for the ensuing year, Mr Simpson was shosen president, Mr Fulton vice-president, Mr Hartman secretary and Mr Kennedy treasurer. It was decided to call the club the Thornden Tennis Club, and green, red and yellow were chosen as the colours.

The first annual meeting of the No. 3 Cooperative Building Society was held in the Forward Movement Hall last evening. Mr E. Fletcher presided, and there was a fair attendance of members. The chairman presented the directors’ report and the balancesheet for the year (a summary of which has been published in the New Zealand Times), and having briefly spoken on the satisfactory , condition of the Society, moved the adoption of the report. This was seconded by Mr Bruhl, and carried unanimously. Mr C. E. Cbitty was re-elected as one of the Society’s auditors, and Messrs Whitehouse, Browne and Martin were duly appointed directors, Messrs Whitehouse and Browne being reappointed. A. hearty vote of thanks to Mr Fletcher, who retires from the directorate, and whose services as chairman of the board during the year were highly spoken of by several members at the meeting, and a similar vote to the other directors and the officeia of the Society terminated the proceedings. An accident happened at Greytown, writes our correspondent, on Thursday evening, which, however, was unattended with any serious consequences. Mr Henare Parata (Harry Pratt) was starting from the Club Hotel stables in his gig, a native friend from Ha vko’s Bay having hold of the horse’s head When Pratt was in the gig he told his friend it was all right, but before the holder of the horse could get away the horse made a plunge ahead, knocking down the friend, ani the gig passed over his boly. The horse then bounded forward in the dir ctien of a verandah in front of a shop opposite, when Pratt gave a hard pull on the reins and brought the horse’s he*.d round. At this juncture t -e spokes of ifae off wheel parted company with the axle, and Pr<?tt was thrown out. The gig then overturned, and thus prevented the horse bolting far. Neither PrvT nor his friend were seriously hurt. Both tv a progressing favourably to-day, and, beyond a few contusions, neither appear to hove suffered very much, though it is really wonderful how they escaped with go few injuries.

Tho 8 a. Duco will run special excursions to Day’s Bay. to-day and to-morrow. A phenomenally heavy* thunder shower occurred at Palmerston yesterday afternoon. The monthly golf competition for the silver d«ek will take place ou the Miramar links to-day.

A branch establishment is to bo opened in Wellington by Messrs Reynolds and Co., the well-known cycle importers.

The Railway Department has not yet decided as to the form of the re-construction ol tho Rangitikoi bridge, but it will probably be built on cylinders.

A smoke concert aud presentation of prizes in connection with the •Swimming Club will bo hold in the irooadeM on Monday next, at 8 p.m, Tho tend >rof Mr William Dunn, of Reeftorj ihw bomi accepted loraiduidiia w> tud Reel ton Courthouse, including a etrong-room for tho depoaituro of mining plant aud documents. The Wellington Whirf .Employees’ Benefit Society will hold its first anniversary 44 social,•* under distinguished patronage, at Thomas* Hall on Wednesday, 19th May, in aid of tho Hawke’s Bay Relief Fund. An Amateur Operatic Society has been formed in Nelson. Mr Ambrose Moore is the conductor, Miss Wobb-Boweu pianist, and Mr Alfred Mansford (who was formerly on the staff of the New Zealand lines), secretary. No reply has yet boon received by the Wellington A and JP. Association authorities to the protest against the decision of tho Otago Association recommending that tho conference of delegates should bo postponed. Tho Court of Appeal cases were concluded yesterday, and on rising their Honors intimated that judgments would bo delivered on Monday, iha New Plymouth case—Brown v. G. T. and P. Bayly—was dismissed by consent;

The Stratford people have determined on lighting the town by electricity, the plant to be driven by water-power, aud the contract has been secured by Mr JR. X. Turnbull, of Wellington. Mr E. B. Toomath will leave Wellington shortly to carry out the work. The new Wanganui Hospital has now boon lighted by electricity; the | contract having been completed by Mr R. T. Turnbull. Mr Turnbull has also just completed a large contract for lighting Bailey’s largo butchering* premises at Now Plymouth by electricity. Anniversary services in connection with St. John’s Presbyterian Church Sunday Schools will bo hold to-morrow. On Tuesday tho cantata *’ Esther! the Beautiful ” will bo given in- tho church by a largo cborus of scholars and teachers, under the leadership of Mr W. Hopkirk. At a woll-attended meeting of Woirarapa, Wellington and Mauawatu line eawmillers, held at Mastorton, it was resolved, “That it is desirable that steps bo taken to form a Sawmillers’ Association to work in conjunction with the Hawke’s Bay Association to harden the prices, as at present the rates, it is alleged, do not pay the saw* millers. 11

The second of Madame Copo*a popular concerts is announced for next Wednesday. Mias Barnett will be heard in a solo, and MUe Hall, by request, will again sing tho Vivan* dioro song. Mr Hunter-Brown, a classical brinjoist, will make hia first appearance before a Wellington audience. Tho operatid selections will bo drawn from “ II T'roratoro* ** Faust” and “ Norma.”

Tho Wyndham Farrier states that ari advertisement lately inserted in a Dunedin paper, enquiring for next-oLkifi ,of a wealthy English lady recently has been associated beyond, a doubt with family well known throughout Southland, and particularly so in the Eastern.district* A politician, a well-known sporting man, 1 a bonifaoo and a retired lady are said to bo tho lucky heirs. The estate is said to run well into five figures, and the necessary proving of kinship is now in tho hands of an Invercargill solicitor.

An announcement is made in onr advertising columns of the next examination in practical music, to bo held by Trinity College, London, in October next. The examiner this year will bo Dr Charles Vincent, Mus. Doc., Oxon., a well-known London musician, and a very able and experienced examiner. At tho reoont \ annual Congress of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (df ithich Sir John Stainer is president) Dr Tin s cent was one of tho chief speakers, and hi also recently presided oter a lecture-fcpßderfc given by Hefcr Balling, tho fariioua viola-alb* player, ill London;

Customs officials who examine passengers* luggage in. South,.Africa have small respect for let inodes. The otHer day one of their number who bad conducted an exhaustive in? vestigation of 4 a lady’s luggage finished nj» placing her husband’s boots in her hat-boy; Tlie result was that A toque or twb, tiii UtQct from. Paris, designed to impress those who ape the fashionable in the suburbs of golden Johannesburg, were reduced to such a condition that only a .Kaffir chief would care to wear them. Another passenger who had rashly ventured to import a plum-pudding had it classed as “ confectionery,” and duty waa levied thereon accordingly. The official had never hoard of •* blombooding I” Judgment was given by MrH, Eyre Kenny, 3.M., yesterday in the case against Mf George Rignold of having sold tickets in a lottery of a bicydle and of establishing A lottery scheme. Mr Kenny said he Had tig doubt that a schemer which came under the definition of lottery section JG • of. tho Lottery find Ganiiug . Act* 188-5* b?d tabliahed. by-the defendant. He had arrived at this conclusion ’• ' - . cue iaugtxsge nsea ox^ tne ticket, and . advertisement. Ho, how> ever, did not think the defendant intended to wilfully break the law. He would fine the defendant .£5 with coats 7s on tho charge of establishing a lottery, and suggested to the police that the first charge should bo withdrawn. This was accordingly done.

Tho case Pollock v. Saunders waa continued at tho Appeal Court yesterday. The case is one in which Mr Pollock entered the course of the Feilding Jockey Club to test his right to bo there He did not bet, but was turned off tho course by tho stewards, who had previously ordered him to leave. Mr Jellicoe, who appeared for the appellant, continued hia argument yesterday morning. . He submitted that tho license under the Gaming and Lotteries Act was not granted to the Feilding Jockey Club for its own purpose, but for tho benefit of the public. At the conclusion of Mr Jellicoe’s argument, their Honor# iutimated that the only'point on which they desired to hear Mr Gully was as to whether the presence of a totalisator gave everyone the right to go on the course. After Mr Gully had addressed the Bench, the Court reserved its decision.

: Thfe Opera Hb'usb having, hy an unfortth * nate raistakoj been placed at lady Douglas* ■ disposal Qn the night of the 26th inst.,.wbed 1 it had already fcdbh placed at the option of Mr Carl Hertf oh that date, she has decided to postpone Her entertainment in aid of the i suffered by the late floods in the Wanganui and Bangitikei districts until Monday, Slat, Mrs Levi; Miss Bradyj Messrs Proiiao aha R. B. Williams, Herr Lehmann and Mt Stabbing have most generously pffered their services to Lady Douglas for the vocal and instrumental portions df the entertaimrientj and Mr L. Sawtell has kindly promised,to give bis life-like imitation of the sounds of animals and birds, and this zoophonic entertaininent Should prove very amusing. Many of our fellow-citizens have gonerbuflly placed tr.oir serviced at the disposal of Lady Douglas for providing the other items of the enteff tainmelit, which will incldde statuary, living pictures, scenes from Japanese, life, display of club swinging, floral display and many other pretty and interesting scenes. 'The box plan for reserved seats Is now. open at Messrs Holliday’s, who have kindly undertaken, to look after that part of the work, find we understand.that many of those seatd have been already allotted. . . The Vogeltowa schoolroom was crammed to the doors labt night when the Brooklyn and Yogeltown supporters of Mr Charles Wilson, M.H.R., held a ** social” in his honour. The schoolroom had been moat tastefully decorated. The new member for the Suburbs, accompanied by Mrs Wilson, arrived about 8 o’clock, and was moat cordially received. Mr Thomas Carmichael occupied the chair, and briefly introduced the new member. Mr Wilson made |a brief and very happy speech, in which ho expressed the satislaction with which he bad learnt that members of his opponent's committee were present that evening. He (Mr Wilson) did not wish to say any hard things against his opponent, and thought that now the battle was over all heart-burn-ings and ill-feeling on either side should be dropped. The spirit of true Liberalism was a cheerful recognition of the right of freedom of individual political opinion. For hla own part he had not the slightest ill-feeling against any of his opponents, although the fight had been, as they knew, a hot one, and some rather hard things had been said and written about him (the speaker). A lengthy programme was then gone through, vocal items being contributed by Messrs M. Corliss, W. Lightfoot, J. Barnett, B. Taylor, A. Sinclair, T. Barnett, J. Burrell and G, Smith, recitations by Messrs Corliss and A. Blockley, a sailor’s hornpipe by Mr S. Day, the entertainment closing with a very funny and an extremely clever dance by Mr T. Delaney. After the concert the rooms were cleared, and an excellent supper, for which the caterer was Mr Mawson, of Cuba street, was done ample justice to. Dancing was then commenced, and was continued until an early hour this morning. Before leaving Mr Wilson thanked the committee and all present for the compliment they had paid him, and congratulated all concerned npoa the excellence of the arrangements. Mr and Mrs Wilson were loudly cheered on leaving for town. The “social” was the greatest success of the kind ever held in the district, and a moat enjoyable evening was spent by ell.

In this issue Messrs Inglis Bros, insert an advertisement which is well worth perusing. The facts set forth show truly the state of business in the cycling trade. Anyone in quest of a good bicycle, such a? Humbers and Humbcr-Goddards, should call and inspect the above firm’s machines. Messrs Inglis Bros, call attention to the fact that they are legitimate importers of cycles, and do net depart from their own line of business. Job. E. Lindberg, the Cheap Draper, Cuba stree*, directs special attention to the many remarkably cheap lines going to-day.

The order of the services at St, Paul’s ProCathedral to-morrow are advertised.

On Thursday, May 20tb, Matthew Henry will sell at Palmerston sheep of all kin^s. F. L. Jackson, auctioneer, will sell form stock of all kinds at Gilfiilau’s farm, Levin, on the 23th May. Abraham and Williams will sell Wesley Knight’s comfortable dairy farm, three miles from Levin, on May 28th. At their Palmerston yards, on the 20th May, Abraham and Williams will sell sheep,. bullocks, and a choice lot of dairy stock. Hollis’ bicycles are built to ride, not to look at, says an advertisement elsewhere. The Carriers’ Union “ social ** will be held on the 21st inst. at Whitaker’s Hall. To-day purebred fowls, furniture and jewellery will be sold at Francis Sidey and Co.'s mart. Taine and Co. have a butchery business for sale at the Upper Hutt. Mr T. Dickson has taken over the business of Mr B. J- Dickson, grocer, Lambton quay. The Public Trustee invites tenders for the plant, tools, shop, livery stables, &0., of Mr W. Candy, Featherston.

On Tuesday next P. R. Jackson will sell bullocks, sheep and pigs, at Johnsonville. At the Church of Christ to-morrow Mr A. P. Turner will preach. The order of services of St, Peter’s Church are advertise^